Layer for making wire cord



Feb. 29, 1944. c. R. BROWNEL L LAYER FOR MAKING WIRE CORD 5 Sheeis-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 16, 1942 w M w J M w 0 .Q 1 a a .a 6 8 8 1/ M 7 8 2 w Q 5 H88 2 w M 4 Mm 3 5 4 Q5 w ,a 6/ 0 1 e t a. I1 7 \B 4 Q 2 w w b 0 42a 1 Hw Mm 6 7. P A c w .J

INVENTOR CARL f2 BROW/VELL, y; g

Feb. 29, 1944. c. R. BROWN-ELL LAYER FOR MAKING WIRE CORD 5 sheets-sheet 3 Filed Nov. 16, @942 tYZ :L IIIIIIILIIJIIIIH:

INVENTOR CARL R BROWNELL,

his Afforney.

v of Figure 1.

Patented Feb. 29,

' ITED STATES PAT 10 Claims.

The present invention relates toimprovements in, mechanism forforming-flne wires into strands whichin turn are twisted together to form a cord. ,More specifically. the invention aims to provide improved ifeature's. or design and ar rangement particularly well suitedto thetwisting together oinflne metallic wiresintofrelatively beincorporatedin the carcass of an automobile tire orin a body of material to be used for belting. The invention aims to provide de-;

tailed features oifstiiucture; design,jand arrangement which will permit of certain variationsin the twist characteristics of both. the

elemental strands. and thermal cord without 1 disturbing themaln operating parts of the ma chine; A further feature relates to the provision I at an improved\ creel supporting turntable adapted to beheld in a stationary position while the machine is in operation, including means to permit the operator to quickly and easily shift v any given creel to a readilyaccessible position tom creelsectlonjs A and related upper filer sections B. Since these sections are all duplicates,

' it will obviously be necessary to describeonly diameter strands; which strands erein turn twisted together to form a'cord adapted to oneof each in detail. It'is to be noted that in a gang machine-oi this sort there is a problem involved in'the loading-"and removing'oi the supply bobbins, and special means are provided to facilitate such loading or unloading.

The machine comprises duplicate upright end frames such as shown at i ll. These are connected at the bottom by beam-like frame members 1 II, at the centralportionbyintermediate'irame members ll, and'at. the top by top frame members fit; 7 The bottom frame members I! are bridged by atransverse member ID. The intermediate members II are bridged by a" trans verse jmember 2l. The members described constitute the main supporting structure for a pin.-

rality of creel sections A and flier section: B

in a manner which will be'readil y understood, from examination of the drawings. I

' A maindrive motor 22 is-supported on abase to facilitate the installing of full Wire supply [bobbins to the creel or the removal r, empty bobbins when their supplybecomes depleted. The inven'ton will be fully apparent from the following detailed disclosurewhen read in connection with the accompanying drawings,

and will be defined withparticularityin accord- I ."shait 3i journalled v bythe frame structure;

ance with the requirements of the patent statutes p in the appended claims.

In the drawings: V Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a'machine exemplifying the present invention. Figure 2 is a skeleton detail illustrating, the

. main drive elements shown in Figure 1 and omitting the creel and flierstructures respectively so as to show more clearly the change speed driving conn'ections constituting an important component of the claimed invention.

Pigure3 is a horizontalsection on line III-III Figure 4 is an enlarge detail illustrating the creel section of the mach e.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail of parts shown in Figure '4. c

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section illustrating the upper flier section of the machine and its driving connection with a main drive shaft and an upper speed change countershaft connected thereto.

Reterring in detail tofthe drawings, the ma-- I chine embodying the present invention is a gang machine employing a plurality of identical bot- 24 whose position may be adjusted by a screw 20 suitable locknuts. The'motor'shatt carries a pulley 28 which is connected by a belt '30 to a drive. pulley'flisecured to a main drive in suitablebearings carried ,The main drive'sha'ft 34 carriesa sprocket wheel '36 whichis connected by chain 38 to asprocket, wheel 40 secured-to a bottom counter-- shait l2 journaled in suitable bearings carried by the end frame; In. A change gear 44 is detachably secured to one end of the bottom countershaft l2. vChange gear ll meshes with a similar. change. gear 48' which is detachably secured to one end of a bottom speed change' shatt 48 journalled in suitable bearings carried'b'y the end. frames l0. The shaft carries a bevel drive pinion il which meshes with a bevel gear n'rotatable cn a vertical axis and supported by a suitable bearing'as shown. The'bevel gear 52 .has secured thereto a spur gear which meshes with [and drives a creel drive gear 56..

supported by'a turntable 58. I'n'the embodiment of the invention illustrated, each turntable ll supports seven creels of identical construction as 7 shown. It is understood, however, that a greater or less number may be used, depending upon the characteristics of the cord to be formed. For the purpose ofillustration I have chosen to show 'a creel arrangement for producing what is known to those skilled in the art as 7 x 8 cord. which means that the ultimate cord consti- A plurality of duplicate creels Care rotatably tutes seven strands S each composed of three wire elements W twisted together. While three elemental wires are used in the description, it will be understood that either more or less can be employed if desired by making obvious modifications in the creel arrangement. Since the creels are all of identical construction, a detailed description of one will sufficev for all. y

Each creel includes a bottom disk 88 and a top disk 82, the same being connected by upright spacer rods 54. Each bottom disk 58 carries a trunnion stud 88 which is mounted in a ball bear ing 88 carried by the bottom member 58 of the turntable. Each top disk 82 carries a hollow trunnion I8 iournalled in a suitable bearing I2 formed in the-top member 14. of the turntable.

The turntable members 58 and I4 are pinned or otherwise secured to a vertical shaft 'I8 which is rotatably supported in a bearing 18 carried by the bottom frame member I2. The turntable is provided on its under surface with an annular series of ratchet teeth 88 which are adapted to coactwith the toothed end of a pawl 82 which is pivotedat 84. to a. suitable fixed bracket 86. Normally; the fixed bracket 88 prevents rotation of the turntable. However, the operator can at wilhmove thepawl 82 so as to disconnect the imposi ztye lockingengagement between it and teeth 88 soas to permit any given one of the seven creels to be turned to a position where easy ac-.

cess can be had thereto. This arrangement greatly facilitates the loading and unloading of bobbins 88 which are carried byrespective bearing studs 98 secured to the upright rods 'of the creel. In the embodiment of the invention shown there are three bobbins 88 carried by each creel and the rods 84 are spaced 120 apart, as viewed in plan. Therefore the axes of rotation; of the three bins 88 will be disposed on 128 centers. Each bobbin is freeto rotate on its respective bearing stud andis normally restrainedfrom endwise movement by a quickly detachable collar 92. A

' suitable tension brake 34 serves to control the rate of payoff of elemental strand wire W, i

The turntable mounting for the creels described 7 is of particular advantage'in. a gang-type inachine such as illustrated, since obviously where several creels are circularly arranged, many of .them'would normally be inaccessible for the purpose of replenishing the wire supply bobbins.

With the described arrangement, the operator can easily and quickly release the impositive lock axis of rotation of the creel. The three elemental strand wires then pass through the hollow trunnion I8 and through a strand closing die I82 carried by a support I84 secured to the upper member I4 of the turntable. As the respective creels rotate, the three elemental wires W fed from the three bobbins are twisted into the form of a three-wire strand S. The seven strands thus formed pass through the seven apertures I88 of the strand guide member I88 which is adjustably secured near the upper extremity of the vertical shaft I6. The strand guide I88 is provided with an aperture to receive a rod II8 which may be adjusted to different elevations by manipulation of a clamp screw I I2 so as to vary the relative position between the strand guide I88 anda strand spacer plate II4 having, the seven openings through which the respective seven strands from the seven creels are led. Usually six of the strands 'will be circularly spaced'equal distances apart and the seventh strand will be located at the center of the circle defined by the other six. A flier isprovided for twisting together the seven strands delivered by each creel. Thus a cord is" produced fromeach group of the seven strands, This flier is, preferably driven from the same main shaft which drives the creels and in accordance with one aspect of the invention,

change gearing is incorporated in the train of havingdiifering twist or lay characteristics.

driving connections betweenethe main drive and the flierland also between take-up drums to be presently described, and the flier. Such an arrangement is considered very advantageous since it provides a relatively simple means whereby adjustments may be made in a given machine so as to adapt the same to produce a variety of cords In other words, provision is made so that by changing. the ratio of the 'gears 44 and 46 and also changing the ratio of the'gear drive'between the main shaft 34 and the flier drive to be presently described, coordinated variations maybe made in the twist imparted to the elemental wires W of the strands S and in the lay of the'final cord product P. To these ends the main shaft 34 is provided with a quickly detachable change gear I I8 which is adapted to be meshed with a quickly provided by the pawl82 and rotate the turntable so as to bring any of the many creels into an accessible loading or unloading position at the front of the gang machine. This avoids the dangerous prior practice of operators inserting their hands andarms between the units, some of which may be rotating. Thus this phase of the invention contributes materially to the'safety of the operators. 7

Each creel trunnion stud has keyed'or otherwise secured thereto a pinion 88 which meshes with the main creel drive gear 58. As thus arranged, it is apparent that power. transmitted from the main shaft 34 will rotate all the creels carried by the turntable, in the same direction.

In the-manufacture of cord suitable for use in automobile carcasses or in belting, I may, for example, use steel strand wire W of approximately .0059 inch diameter. The three elemental strand wires W from the three bobbins of each creel are led through suitable guide eyes 88 supported by the creel structure and then through a wire guide I88 located in the region of the upper detachable change gearI I8 mounted on the end of a top speed change counter shaft I28 mounted in suitable bearings carried by the end frames I8. Said top speed change shaft I28 has keyed :or otherwise secured thereto a bevel drive pinion I22 which meshes witli'a bevel gear I24 mounted to rotate, abouta vertical axis. The bevel gear I24 is keyed or otherwise secured to the hub I25 of a spur gear I28 which meshes with and drives a take-up gear, I38. The gear I38 is mounted to rotate about the axis of rotation of the flier B and is so arranged that it can move relatively to the flier. This take-up gear I38 is keyed to the hub of a hub gear I32 freely mounted on a hub extension I34 of the flier base plate I88. The gear I32 meshes with two identical gears I38 which are secured to grooved take-up drums I48, each gear I38 having an upwardly extending sleeve portion I42 to which each respective take- I up drum I48 is pinned. Fitted within each sleeve extension I42 there is a shaft extension I44 of a respective spool drive gear I46. The spool drive gears in turn mesh with a gear I48 secured to a disk member I58 carrying a facing of friction material I52 for coaction with a flier spool disk I54. The disk I54 carries a plurality of dowels I55 which make a detachable connection with apertures I58 formed in the flange I58 of a taketion is provided between the take-upspooland up spool I62 which is adapted toaccumulate the r cord P formed by the'twistingtogethenof the several strands S. i

Rotary motion is transmitted to'the flier from of the fact that the creelsection and the flir'section are driven from a common main shaft througha countershaft which is in turnconnected through the change gearing described respectiv ely with the creel drive and the .flierjand take-up drives, it is apparent ,that'the speedratios ofthe. parts can be adjusted so asto'produce a variety of Cards having difiering predetermined characteristics with respect to thelj twist imparted to the elemental strand wires ,Wand' the lay impartedlto the strands S. in the cord P finally produced.

The machine, de scribed, for example, is constructedto make what is known to thoseskilled I :inhthe art as regular lay cord, which means a cord having elemental strand wires Wand strands S all of opposite-lay That is to say, if thewires W are twisted in a left-hand lay,"the,strands S of the cord will be, of right-hand lay;v oralternatively, if the strand wires W.-a're twisted to right-hand: lay the strands S' p of the cord will be twistedina left-hand lay.

The "machine illustrat d and describedis I adapted to be driven at appropriate speedsito pro duce 7 x 3 wirecords-having either 2 ,'3,or3 /2 twists' p er inch to the cord. Wh'ensafcordhaving three twists per inch is-being-;made, theflier B a will he'caused to revolve atabout 730 R. PJfM. and each creel A in the lower'se'ction of the ma; chine :will revolve at about 830 R.,P. M. jln'order" .to 'vvary'the number or. twists per-inch of' the strands-S in the-finishedcord. product P,;the gear ratiostof' the changeii-gears- +46 .i and vl |6l I 8' will be varied. For example, in order h, i to make cord having-2 -twists per inch, the-ratio forthe number oiteethin'the gears I ls andsl I8 will be in the'the proportion of 46 to 53. f13y changing this ratio to 57 to 64," the cord lay of the strands S can" be changed to three-twists per inch. Orto secure a' c'ord'in which the-strands S have a lay of 3 twistsper inch, this ratio can be changed to 47 to 42 by the utilization of change gears" having appropriate numbers of teeth and pitch diameters; In a similar manner, variation inthe number of twists per .inch imparted to the elemental wires W can be effected by making app opriate changes in the ratiosof elemental wires W and lay l-impart'ed to the strands Sc an be secured at thewill of the operator.- "The angle of the lay imparted tothe strands in the final cord product, it-wil'lgbeappreciatedjis'dethe rotary speedof theflier and the'-rate at which up. The cord feed or-longitudinal adv ancer the gear I48 soas to permit-a certain amount of relative slip necessitated by the fact that the rotativespeed or the spool must-change as the diameterf'ofthe convolutions accumulating thereon increase. Y

Aplurality of strands S converge from the strand spacer plate I l toward the axis of rotation of the flier, and thenp'assinto engagement with compressor dies I12 mounted in oppositely inclined guide apertures formed-in the lower extremityofthe-hollow flier stud IN; This stud is provided with'a-threaded portion to which is adjustably secured a nut llfi which bears against a spring l 18, the opposite end of which coac'ts with a head I80 which serves to yieldingly press the compressor dies I12 into operative relationship with the strands S-comlng from the several creels.

These strands are directed to the compressor dies by a suitable guide collet I82 secured to the lower states on its: vertical axis, the six outerstrands S in the example given' will' betwisted around'the center longitudinalistrand so as to produce cord 5 of the desired lay characteristics; 7 The thus'twisted cord is passed around agroQved guide sheave I84 from whence itis trained aroundthe' several grooves oithe" take up drums, I405 The cord-then passes around a I guide, pulley ll 86securedto the ,30 mid-plate] 88'oftheilie'r. From this guide pulley 35 struction' and forming thereto, the traverse I86 the'cord "passes "over-agrooved guide sheave [90 carried by, a traverse head I 92 whicli is-adapted to be movedup and'down by-traversingmechanism indicated genera'llv'at' 19d, of: known ,gqn.

part or-the present 'in-' hat" this; traversing 1 mechanism' -is adapted-t be perated by-a pinion driven in a conventional ma carrying a pin whee such "as: that "shown" in 'rior 'i-Brownell patents, Nos. 624,184- or 689,786. o'fanyfother suitable 1 known type of mechanism '-"may ,be employed leted co'rd to I whichis capable of causing the comp stitutions of mechanical equivalents may be rethe change gears and 4 6' through which-the @sever'al-creels' are driven; Since-the creelsuand 5 the flier-receive their drive from the same 'main "shaft 34, it will be' manifest that the. .'-desired sorted to by those'skillediinthe-art without'departure "from the inve tio defined in the appended claims.

twisting'fthe strands into a: cord; said 'flier carryingtake-up' drums f or pulling the strands from the-lower sectlonpa.common' powr drive for the f interposed-between the power-drive and 1 said J i creels and ilier-and respectivespeed-change means 7 r r r I I y creels'andflierforvarying the'respective rotative pendent somewhat upon-the relat1onship between take-up is determined'by the size and: rate of rotation of the take-updrums 140.

= speeds of all-of said rotary creels as a group, said upper section; and "said 1 take-up arui'ns whereby the respective twist or theistrandsand the m of the cord can be varied at will to produce-a variety of cords differing as to strand twist andcord lay characteristics. r

" 2-. A ma'chine'oi' the character described; com

'prising in combination aplurality of rotarycreels section including-a flier for l for twisting wires into strands, a rotary flier for twisting strands-received from the creels into a cord, take-up drums mounted on the fliereflective to withdraws plurality ofstrands from the, creel section, the flier carrying a spool forreceiving the cord produced by twisting together the strands drawn-oil. from the creels, a common power drive for said creels, said flier and said take-up drums and speed change mechanisms interposed between the common power drive and said creels and said flier so as to-permit of selective variation of the relative rotating speeds oi allof said creels as a group. and flier, whereby the respective twists of the elemental strands produced by the creels and the lay of the strands of the ultimate cordtwisted together by the flier can be varied'atthe will of the operator so as ,toproduce avariety'of cord products diifering as to strand twist and cord flxed element having a plurality of guide openings therein through which the strands from the several creels converge, a rotatably mounted flier carrying compressor dies and take-up drums and a spool for accumulatingthe cord produced, a

power drive common to said creels and said flier, and respective motion-transmitting connections between the power drive, said common creel driving element and said flier including hanse sear ing, whereby the degree of twist imparted to the wires constituting said strands by said crcels can be selectively varied as a group at will by the operator. and likcwisethe lay of the strands imparted by rotation of the flier can also be selectively variedby the Op rator. I

I. A machine of the class described,comprising positions, a plurality of creel-s each rotatably sup ported by saidturntable, each creel carrying a plurality of wire supply bobbins, a driving element common to all or said creels for rotating them in unison, a respective strand closing die aligned with the axis-of rotation of each creel and through which the wires from the bobbins are adapted to pass, a strand guide having a plurality of apertures through which the strands irom the several creels converge, a flier having, take-up drums for pulling the strands through said guide,

said flier carrying a. mtating spoolioraccumulau tively connected with and driven from said lower speed change shaft, each creel carrying a plurality of bobbins of strand wire, a 'fli'er carryin! take-up drums and a take-up spool, an upper speedch'an'ge shalt connected by change gearing 'with said main shaft and respective means'drlven ill by the mainfshaitand the upper speed, change shaft for driving' said flier and said take-up drums, a friction, platehaving' a; driving connection with said take-up drums, and'means for transmitting motion from the friction plate to I said take up spool.

6. A machine of the class described, compriseing incombinatio n a powerdriven main shaft, a

lower counte'rshait driven thereby, a lower speed change shaft 'connectedto said countershait by I change gearing, a plurality of creels all operatively connected with and driven from said lower 'speedchangeshait, each creel carrying a plurality oi bobbinsoi strand wire, ,a flier carrying take-up'drums and a take-up spool, an upp r 1 speed change shait'connected by change gearing with said main shaft and respective means driven by, the main shaft and the upper speed change 'shai't'ior drlving said flier and said take-up drums, ai'riction plate having a driving connection with said take-up drums, a disk driven by said friction plate, and dowels in said disk dctachably holes in the take-up spool.

7. A machine of theclass described,- comprising a fixed frame member, a'normally stationary turntable rotatably mounted on said frame member, a plurality of spaced creels, each rotatably supported by' the turntable and each carrying a plurality oi strand wire supply bobbins, md means impositively locking the turntable against rotary movement yet adapted to permitselectad ,creclstobcbroughtatwilltoapositiontoiaeil- "itatcthcmoimtmg'ordismountlngoisaidsuppb in combination a normally stationary rotatably mounted turntable; meansior releasably holding the turntable in anyone oia plurality oi" desired.

lAmachinecfthcclass'dc scribcdfcomlllaing a turntablcrotatable about mum-ism axis, a plurality of crcels rotatably supported by the turntable a plurality of strand 'wire supply bobbins and turntable locking means compriainglnannular seriesoiteethontba buntableanda pivoted pawl normally engaging theteethsoastopreventrotationoitheturntablcbutadlptcdioberockedsoastoiacilim ing the cord product resultingirom the twisting I i together 0! said strands, a power drive, respective transmission devices operably connected therewith and with the several the flier, and the take-up said transmission devices including change gearing whereby variations in Q the relative rotation oi all of the creels asagroupandtbefliercanbeeflectedsoasto produce a variety; oi cords difleringasto twist characteristics oi-thewires forming the component strands and ash the lay of the strands in theflnishedcord. g I

5. A machine oi the class described. comprising in combination a power-driven main shaft, a lower countershai't driven thereby, a lower speed change shaitconnected to said countershaitby change gearing, a plurality oi creel; all operaturning the table tobrlng thecreelsinto positions to-iacilitate loading or unloading wire'suppiy bobbins at a location to suit the operator's convenience. e

9, A machine of the class described, comprising a main shaft, a lower .countershait driven thereby, a lower speed change, shait, respective change gears detachably secured'to said lower shafts, a creel gear driven irom said main shalt, a

lurality oi creels all driven by said .creel gear,

said creelgeachcarryingapluralityoi boblim :ior supplying strand wire,,a turntable m supportingsaidcreelsaflierandbearingsiccrotatably m ti aa t n 8M axis 0! rotation 0'! said turntable,=rcspcctiva means for guiding strand wire from the bcbhl oi the several'crcels ol the flier, the flier having, an in saidbearln'gasaid studhaving .way therein, 'ior strands iron the axial take-up nu s ro bly supp rted by the flier cach drumhaving a lower and an upper g'earrotating therewith, a sleeve gear iournaled on the hub 01 a the lier and meshing withthe lower or laid takeup drum gears, a drive plate rotatable relative to the flier and carrying a gear which meshes with the upper take-up drum gear, a spool drive disk rotatable relative to drive said plate, a take-up spool operatively connected with said drive disk,

a hub gear secured to the flier, a drive gear mesh ing with said hub gear and carrying a bevel pinion, a bevel gear secured to the top speed change countershaft and meshing with said bevel pinion, respective upper change gears detachably secured to said main shaft and said top change speed shaft, another bevel gear secured to the main shaft and meshing with a bevel gear secured to the flier drive gear, and a driven gear secured to theflier and meshing with said flier drive gear.

10. A machine of the class described, comprising in combination, a main shaft, a lower countershaft driven thereby, a lower speed change shaft connected to said countershaft by respective change gears detachably secured to said lower shafts, a plurality of creels all driven by a common gear which is driven by said main shaft through said lower countershaft and lowerspeed change shaft, said creels each carrying a plurality of bobbins of strand wire, a normally stationary turntable supporting said creels for rotation.

of rotation of said turntable, respective means for guiding strand wire from the bobbins oithe several creels to the axial region of said flier, the flier having a vertically disposed trunnion stud formed with an axial passageway therein, means for guiding the strands from the creels to said axial passageway, yielding compressor dies sup- Qported by said trunnion stud, grooved take-up drums rotatably supported by the flier, each having lower and upper gears rotating therewith, a

sleeve gear journalled on the hub of the flier and meshing with the lower of said take-up drum gears, a friction plate rotatable relative to the flier and carrying a gear which meshes with the upper take-up drum gears, a spool drive disk rotatable relative to said friction plate and journalled thereon, a cord take-up spool having adetachable connection with said drive disk, a drive gear meshing with said hub gear and carrying a bevel pinion meshing with a bevel gear secured to a top speed change counter-shaft, respective upper change gears detachably secured to said main shaft and said top change speedshaft, another bevel gear secured to the main shaft meshing with a similar bevel gear secured to a flier drive gear which in turn meshes with a flier gear secured to and moving with the flier, and bearings rotatably supporting the flier.

CARL R. BROWNELL. 

